County purchases mobile command trailer from FEMA

BENTON -- Scott County officials are picking up today what will soon be the county's mobile command center trailer.

Scott County Commissioners approved the purchase of what was a Federal Emergency Management Agency trailer for $2,500 from state surplus property during their regular meeting Tuesday.

Joe Burton, emergency management director for Scott County, and Joel Evans, county developer, agreed during the meeting to leave early today to pick up the trailer from Madison, Ind.

Burton said the trailer is a new 31-foot Fleetwood Prowler model.

"It has one pullout on the side," Burton said. "It retails at $33,695 on the Internet."

The trailer is equipped with a bathroom, shower and kitchen, according to Burton, in addition to several beds.

Evans said the trailer has a power inverter so it can run off of battery power for a short while or be plugged in for AC.

Burton said the trailer is built to be moved often. "They're made to pull," he said. "They're designed as an RV."

Presiding Commissioner Jamie Burger said the trailers are a great opportunity for all governments in the county.

"Somebody needs to call the cities and make them aware of this," Burger said. "This would be a good thing for communities to take advantage of."

"I know at least one of the schools was interested in one," Evans said.

"I think at $2,500 these things aren't going to last very long," Burger said.

"We've got 12 months to put it in service once we get it. We have to keep it in service for 18 months and then the title would be transferred to Scott County," Burton. "'In service' means it's ready to be used any day."

Commissioners also authorized putting trailer brakes -- electronic brakes that activate the trailer's brakes -- on the truck that will tow it.